Car-coupling



N 2 M m (No Model.)

B. F. OHAVER.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 323,720. Patented Aug. 4, 1885,

lJNITE STAT S PATENT rica.

E. FRANK OHAVER, OF MURPHYSBOROUGH, ILLINOIS CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,720, dated August4, 1885.

Application filed June 15, 1885. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, E. FRANK OHAVER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Murphysborough, in the county of Jackson and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOar-Gouplers,of which the following is a specification,reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toiinprovements in carcouplers, the object beingto provide a coupler which will automatically couple with an approachingcar, and one in which it will not be necessary for a person whose dutyit is to couple and uncouple cars to endanger his life by going betweenthe same, as that operation may be done from the side thereof; and theinvention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter setforth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved coupler inperspective. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same; andFig. 3 is a detail in perspective illustrating my spring-jaw.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A represents the body portion of a car, heneath which is secured in anyordinary manner my coupler.

B represents the drawhead, on one side of which is formed a hollow rib,B, near the front thereof. WVithin the hollow rib B, upon a rod, B ishinged aplate or jaw, O,which is formed with the jaw portion 0, andatrightangle thereto is a laterally-extending arm, 0, and the hingeportion 0 The hinge is provided with a spring, 0*, coiled around the rod13 between the two hinge portions or hangers C of the plate or jaw G,the tendency of which spring is to force the jaw toward the front of thedraw-head, where it is checked by a stop or lug, B formed at the mouthof the head.

As before stated, the jaw G is provided with a laterally-extending arm,Oiwhich is curved and tapered to form an operating-lever, G, which isprovided at its terminus with a handle, 0 This arm or lever is passedthrough a longitudinal slot, B, in the draw-head B, in rear of thehollow rib B.

The style of link used is that shown in Fig.

1 of the drawings, which consists of a body portion, D, at both ends ofwhich are formed triangular heads D.

I have shown in Fig. 1, in the top of the head, a pin-hole, B, throughwhich, if desired, an ordinary pin maybe passed, and through thepin-hole D ,shown in the couplerbar; but this is not at all necessary.However, should it be desired to use the pin or to couple with anordinary link, the spring-actuated jaw C may be drawn back by means ofthe lever C until the hole 0' therein passes the slot B in the head, andany ordinary locking-pin may be inserted, when the coupler may be usedwith any ordinary link and pin. Now, if it is desired to use the pinwith or without the link shown,and for the purpose of making the saiduse perfectly safe, I have provided at the top of my draw-head alink-elevating device, which consists of a bifurcated plate, E, at thefront of which and extending on either side of the pin-hole are arms R,upon which the head of the pin rests and the rear of which is bent at aright angle to the plate E, and slides between a pair of posts, F, andthe platform of the car. In front of the posts or guides and upon theplate E are a pair of lugs, G, in which are journaled a pair, ofpinelevating levers, G, which are pivoted at G in the front of the car.It will thus be seen that the pin may be raised by means of the le versand the cars uncoupled without the necessity of going between the same.

The operation is as follows: When the cars approach each other and abut,the end of the link D comes in contact with the springjaw G, which isforced back toward the inner side of the draw-head and remains thereuntil the head has passed the same, when it swings forward against thestop B and the cars are coupled. To uncouple the cars it is onlynecessary to pull upon the handle or lever 0 which will draw back thespring-jaw and allow the link to be withdrawn.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is- 1. Thecombination, in a draw-head, of a hollow rib formed at the side thereof,forming a receptacle for a hinge jaw, anda Springa t ated locking-jaw,the upper portion of which is bent to form an operatinghandle for thesame, and arranged to pass through a slot in the draw-head,substantially as specified.

2. lhe combination, with a draw-head, of a spring-jaw hinged thereto,said jaw having its upper part bent at a right angle and extendedthrough a slot in said head and tern1inating in a jaw-operating handle,substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the head 13, having the rib B formed at itsside, and the slot 13 and stop B of the jaw 0, having the portion 0 bentat an angle thereto, and terminating in the handle 0", and the spring Bsubstantially as shown and described.

4. The draw-head B, in combination with the jaw 0, having the hole 0 anda pin for retaining the jaw in an open position, substantially as shownand described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 20 presence of twowitnesses.

E. FRZ: NK OHAVER.

Witnesses:

J OHN HARDY, XV. XV. KIMBALL.

